Kakhramon Olimov. Photo: gazeta.uz
Forty-eight-year-old Kakhramon Olimov, majority shareholder of Anorbank and manager of over $1 billion in assets, was kidnapped in France, Le Monde reports.
According to the publication, Olimov arrived in Paris on June 22 for meetings with French partners and to close a real estate deal. That same day, he met a young woman named Anastasia who claimed to work at a beauty salon in Turkey and gave her his phone number.
The following day, after receiving persistent messages, Olimov agreed to meet her near his hotel. As he approached, three men attacked him: one held his arms, another applied a chokehold, and the third grabbed his legs. He was forced into a Mercedes van while the woman ignored his plea to call the police.
Olimov was taken to a private residence with high fences, where he recognized one of the kidnappers—a former business partner now living in Turkey. The man accused him of seizing a stake in the bank and demanded a $10 million ransom. The banker was beaten, slapped, and subjected to a mock hanging. He was later moved to a villa basement in Nice, where the threats continued.
He was released only after a partial ransom payment. Upon gaining his freedom, Olimov made his way to the train station in Nice, traveled to Paris by train, and reported the incident to the police. Doctors documented multiple bruises, signs of physical abuse, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
On July 1, French police arrested one suspect—a Turkish national. Olimov has since returned to Tashkent and, according to his representative, has increased his personal security.
